Who gets milk allergy?
In this article, milk refers specifically to cow's milk and
not to other types of milk such as soy milk, rice milk,
goat's milk etc. unless specified.
Although milk allergy occurs most often in infants and children,
it can appear at any age and can be caused by foods that had been
previously eaten without any problems. Milk allergy can develop in
both formula-fed and breastfed infants. Breastfed infants can
develop milk allergy to cow's milk protein passed through
breast milk, and may not have a reaction until they drink or eat
cow's milk. Many infants who have milk allergy can lose their
allergy by 5 years of age.
Milk allergy is not the same thing as lactose intolerance.
Lactose intolerance is the inability to digest lactose, a sugar
found in many dairy products. Lactose intolerance is rare in
infants and young children and is more common in adults.
What are the symptoms?
Allergic reactions to foods usually begin within minutes to a few
hours after eating the food. The severity of symptoms can vary
widely from one person to another. Mildly allergic persons may have
itching and a few hives while severely allergic persons may
experience severe, life-threatening symptoms such as breathing
problems or swelling of the throat. The symptoms of food allergy
may include any or several of the following:
- Itching
- Hives
- Eczema
- Tingling or swelling of the lips, tongue or throat
- Chest tightness, shortness of breath or difficulty
breathing
- Wheezing
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
- Dizziness
- Fainting
- Anaphylaxis: sudden, severe, potentially fatal, systemic
allergic reaction that can involve several areas of the body
Other things to keep in mind if you have milk allergy:
- Although soy milk may be a possible alternative to cow's milk,
many people with cow's milk allergy can have soy
allergy.
- Many people allergic to cow's milk may not tolerate milk
from other mammals such as goat or sheep.
- Some people with cow's milk allergy may have a reaction
after eating beef.
How do I avoid exposure?
If you have milk allergy, strict avoidance of milk is the only way
to prevent a reaction. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
requires food manufacturers to list common food allergens on food
labels in plain terms to make it easier to identify the food
allergens. Food labels must clearly list eight allergens which
account for almost 90 percent of all food allergies: cow's
milk, soy, wheat, egg, peanut, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish.